Page 73 of Cruel Love
Over my cold, rotting corpse.
But my father smirked, knowingjustlike I didthatWillow wouldn’teverbe a part of Legion.“You know, James, you always had a tendency to not listen to me, and it only ever ended in disaster for you. Maybe whenthatgirl is out of your life, you’ll finally do what I’ve asked, and marry someone from within Legion-”
“Willow isn’t going anywhere,”I snapped, my fists clenching.“She’smy wife and will be the mother of my heir. If anyone hurts her, I’ll take my time in removing every organ from their body.”
Elijah chuckled again.“That’s if you don’t run out of time to knock herup. How long do you have left to get her pregnant? A month, right?”
My eyes narrowed on him, the need to wipe the smirk off his facebecoming more and more overpowering with each passing second.
The cunt was right, there was one more month left until I losteverything. Which was why I had already put plans in place to buy myself more time.
When I’d discovered Willow had started her period a few days ago,I’d wanted to wrap my hands around her throat and ring the life out of her, but I couldn’t. It wasn’t her fault.
There was something I could do though. A measure I was hoping Iwouldn’t have to resort to, but with the whiskey swimming through my veins, and Elijah’s arrogant smirk on his face, I decided rightthento put my plans into motion.
Chapter 26
James
Ding, ding, ding.
I tapped the fork against the side of my champagne flute, thechime echoing through the ballroom despite the chatter amongst the guests. All eyes fell on me as silence descended.
On one side of the room, my father narrowed his eyes on me. Elijahwore a bored expression, and Welch was too busy staring at Willow to notice everyone in the room was waiting for me to make a speech.
Thankfully, Jackson, loyal as ever, was still by Willow’s side otherwiseI was certain Welch would have used the opportunity to approach her.
“Good afternoon,”I started, addressing the guests and projecting myvoice so every single person in the huge room could hear me.“I wanted to take a moment to thank you all for coming today. Your support means a great deal to both myself and my father. As you can imagine, this is a difficult time for us, but to have your support gives us the strength we need to get through these tough days.”
Bullshit.
It was all fucking bullshit, and everyone here knew it. When the wakewas over, they’d leave the house and wouldn’t give my mom a second thought. All they would care about would be the deals they’d secured with fellow Legion members.
“Abbie Carter was a wonderful woman, and she will be sorelymissed.”I swallowed the lump forming in my throat. Speaking about my mom was harder than I imagined.“She was an incredible support growing up, and neither my sister, Kiera, nor I went a day without her love.”
I paused again, doing my best to curtail the smirk trying to form on mylips at the sneer on my father’s face. He could pretend all he likedthatmy sister didn’t exist, but my mom never forgot Kiera, and neither would I.Next to him, Elijah rolled his eyes, and the need to pummel his facerightthenwas stronger than ever. I knew I wouldn’t be able to hold my temper in check unless I reminded himthathe wasnevergoing to take Legion from me.
“Family meant everything to my mom,”I continued, telling myself Iwas doing the right thing.“For years, she would tell me how she looked forward to the day when she had lots of grandbabies to play with. While this is a day filled with sadness as we mourn her absence, my wife and I have decided today is the right time to share our news as we both know how happy it would have made my mom. So it gives me great pleasure to announcethatWillow and I are expecting our first child.”
Oohsandaahsfilled the space. Across the room, Willow’s facedrained of all color, her eyes widening in horror. Jackson lowered his mouth to whisper something in her ear. He knew my plan. In fact, he’d encouraged it, agreeing with methatitwould buy me and Willow at least a couple of extra months if I didn’t succeed in putting a baby in her before my time was up.
Somehow, despite the bomb I’djustdropped on her, she managed tocompose herself, plastering a small smile on her lips.
My attention moved from her to my father who was glowering at mewhile Elijah looked like he was about to commit murder right there andthen. He began hissing in my father’s ear, flapping his arms maniacally, only to be silenced by a withering glare from my father.
I needed to wrap things up so I could get to Willow before my fatheror Elijah had a chance to interrogate her. I should have brought her in on the plan before now, but I had been hoping it was a plan I didn’t need to use. I only hoped she didn’t fuck everything up when my father inevitably quizzed her.
I held up my glass, ready to bring my speech to a close.“Pleasecould you all join me in raising a glass in memory of my mom. To Abbie Carter.”
Chimes of‘Abbie Carter’rang out, and as everyone took a mouthfulof their drink, I quickly made my way through the guests to Willow.
“Congratulations,”Jackson said, holding his hand out and goingalong with the rouse while we had an audience.
“Thanks,”I replied, shaking his hand. Releasing him, I grabbedWillow’s arm.“Come on, we need to go.”
Her face was still ghostly pale, anxiety written all over her. I started tolead her out of the ballroom, intending to take her up to my old bedroom so I could speak to her without anyone overhearing, but before we could get far, our path was blocked.
“You fucking liar!”Elijah roared, spittle flying from his mouth.“Sheisn’t fucking pregnant, you’re talking shit!”
